Learning from an Evil Boss
"My boss must have Alzheimer's. He always denies what he previously said."
Play it cool: Stop looking at a bad boss as a monolithic horror who is keeping you in misery. Instead, start looking at him as a person with fears and desires that you can manage to your advantage. A bad boss is a mobile textbook of behavioral psychology. Take working with him or her as a golden chance to learn the "Do's and Don'ts" of supervision. It certainly helps you become a better manager at the later stage as by then you will have an experience in the pitfalls of bad management.
The Idea Machine: With a finger pointing boss, you got to be his or her go-to person with solutions to problems. That way, when a mistake comes in light, you'll be the one who can provide fixes. Slowly, slowly he'll come to rely on you.
Note it down: If you decide to seek help from senior management or HR department then make sure that you document time, dates and events of bullying behavior. If your company has a zero tolerance toward bully behavior, then you need to carry proof that your boss is a big time bully.
Get a venting buddy: Venting is therapeutic. Find a trustworthy sounding board to vent your frustration and anger, but don't do it with your co-workers. If you are surrounded by “not so into discussion” friends, practice breathing slowly. Take a minute for three slow breaths every hour at least. Before meetings and conference calls, take five minutes to breathe deeply. You will find yourself emotionally managed.
"I'm so sick of my boss. He is an irresponsible piece of ****."
"My boss threw an 'urgent' report at me at 2PM and asked me to complete it by 9AM, What does he think? Am I a Superman?"
These are just fractions of the most commonly cited "bad boss" behaviors that millions of employees around the world encounter, every day. I can tell you from my personal experience that when you are stuck with managerial incompetence, your all attempts to have a meaningful conversation with the boss will fail. Yet, you can do something to turn the situation around for yourself.
Keep up the good work: Take your eyes off the boss and put your focus on the job. Working for a bad boss does not give you an excuse to under-perform and let your attitude slip either. Strengthen your credibility by meeting your commitments, demonstrating a leadership behavior you would like to see from your boss. You should never over-promise and under-deliver, especially when you have an evil boss.
Know your Boss Type: Know your boss type and make a list of your boss's strengths and weaknesses. Observe if there are ways you can build upon the strengths, reducing the weaknesses. For example: A finger pointing boss always wants to be successful, but he will always have a tremendous fear of failing. Here, you would have to be careful that nothing goes wrong with your assignment.
"My boss threw an 'urgent' report at me at 2PM and asked me to complete it by 9AM, What does he think? Am I a Superman?"
These are just fractions of the most commonly cited "bad boss" behaviors that millions of employees around the world encounter, every day. I can tell you from my personal experience that when you are stuck with managerial incompetence, your all attempts to have a meaningful conversation with the boss will fail. Yet, you can do something to turn the situation around for yourself.
Keep up the good work: Take your eyes off the boss and put your focus on the job. Working for a bad boss does not give you an excuse to under-perform and let your attitude slip either. Strengthen your credibility by meeting your commitments, demonstrating a leadership behavior you would like to see from your boss. You should never over-promise and under-deliver, especially when you have an evil boss.
Know your Boss Type: Know your boss type and make a list of your boss's strengths and weaknesses. Observe if there are ways you can build upon the strengths, reducing the weaknesses. For example: A finger pointing boss always wants to be successful, but he will always have a tremendous fear of failing. Here, you would have to be careful that nothing goes wrong with your assignment.
Play it cool: Stop looking at a bad boss as a monolithic horror who is keeping you in misery. Instead, start looking at him as a person with fears and desires that you can manage to your advantage. A bad boss is a mobile textbook of behavioral psychology. Take working with him or her as a golden chance to learn the "Do's and Don'ts" of supervision. It certainly helps you become a better manager at the later stage as by then you will have an experience in the pitfalls of bad management.
The Idea Machine: With a finger pointing boss, you got to be his or her go-to person with solutions to problems. That way, when a mistake comes in light, you'll be the one who can provide fixes. Slowly, slowly he'll come to rely on you.
Note it down: If you decide to seek help from senior management or HR department then make sure that you document time, dates and events of bullying behavior. If your company has a zero tolerance toward bully behavior, then you need to carry proof that your boss is a big time bully.
Get a venting buddy: Venting is therapeutic. Find a trustworthy sounding board to vent your frustration and anger, but don't do it with your co-workers. If you are surrounded by “not so into discussion” friends, practice breathing slowly. Take a minute for three slow breaths every hour at least. Before meetings and conference calls, take five minutes to breathe deeply. You will find yourself emotionally managed.
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